# NTSB NYC91LA087: Cessna 152, N69095, Caldwell, NJ, March 12, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1991, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, NJ
- Location: 40.8752° N, 74.2814° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESSEX COUNTY (CDW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8752&lon=-74.2814&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36888/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA087

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT. DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

ON HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND AT NIGHT, THE PLT HAD PLANNED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, BUT HAD DIFFICULTY BLEEDING OFF AIRSPEED, SO HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND. ON THE 2ND APCH, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A FULL STOP LANDING. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. A POST-ACDNT EXAM DISCLOSED NO PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE FLT CONTROLS OR THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69095](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69095-2004-08-17), registration cancelled 2004-08-17, S/N 15282480, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282480
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Caldwell Flight Academy
- Departed: CDW
- Airport: CDW, Essex County, runway 4, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 134 total, 106 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 10 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910312005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910312005279A), Mar 12, 1991: Cessna 152, Caldwell, NJ, Substantial damage. First night landings. Too high on first try. Second try landed hard collapsing the nose gear. Failed timely flare.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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